Janusz Luterek
- Head of Africa Patents
- Partner
Janusz oversees the firm’s patent practice across the Sub-Saharan Africa region. He has extensive experience in providing opinions on the novelty and infringement of patents and other IP rights, as well as in drafting and prosecuting both domestic and international patent and design applications. He is well versed in patent and copyright litigation, representing a wide range of clients. Janusz is also a senior adjudicator of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law’s alternative dispute resolution provider for settling domain name disputes.
Janusz was the head of the patent department at Hahn & Hahn, before it merged into CWB. With a background in chemical engineering and over 25 years of IP-related experience, Janusz has efficiently managed both routine and complex patent matters across Africa.
Janusz is a member of several professional, industrial, and legal societies in South Africa, the USA, and the UK. He has also passed the Australian patent drafting examinations and regularly attends US and European courses to stay on top of the latest international developments.
Experience
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Represented clients in several Supreme Court cases
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Managed patent portfolios for clients such as Ericsson, BASF, and other leading companies
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Specialized in chemical, agrochemical, food, and IT-related inventions
Qualifications
- Patent Attorney, South Africa, 2001
- Attorney at Law, High Court of South Africa, 1997
- Professional Engineer, Engineering Council of South Africa, 1993
Education
- University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, BProc, 1996
- University of Pretoria, South Africa, BEng in Chemical Engineering, 1989
Languages
- Afrikaans
- English
- Polish
Professional Activities
Publications
"Is the date of assignment of an invention affecting validity of patent rights in South Africa?". IP Briefs, Vol 2 - Issue 1. (March 2025)
Membership
- South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL)
- FICPI
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
- Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), Chartered Engineer (CEng)
Committees
- South African Association for Food Science and Technology (SAAFoST), Chairman of the SAAFoST Foundation, 2022 – current
- Vice President of AIPPI South Africa, 2007-2008 Term
- Chair of the SAIIPL Patent Law Committee, 2002-2003 Term
